Foldable chair



Juy l5, 1952 F. H. MCCLERNON v 2,603,274

FOLDABLE CHAIR Filed July 25, 1945 4 sheets-sheet 1 .bly

Juy'l, 1952 F. H. MGCLERNON 2,603,274

` FOLDABLE CHAIR Filed July 23, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ingenio?? Ramis.HMCZerizon mrneyd'.

july E5, 4w52 F. H. MCCLERNON FOLDABLE CHAIR 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 fileflJuly 25, 1945 illlllll Inv/'enivre July 15, 1952 F. H. MccLl-:RNON

FOLDABLE CHAIR Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 25, 1945 wY ,m I.

Patented July 15, 1952 CE j FOLDABLE CHAIR y Francis H. Mc-Clernon,Springfield, Mo.

Application July 23, 1945, Serial No. 606,605 f 1s claims. (ci. 15s-152)l v This invention has to do with chairs of th folding type. Its purposeis to provide a folding chair having a back rest, side arms, and legs.all of which are foldable against the top and bottom of the seat so asto provide a closely assembled compact relation of the parts which willpermit the chair, in folded condition, to be readily packed andtransported; but which parts. when unfolded and in extended position,provide a sturdychair. kThe invention contemplates, further, a, relationbetween hinged and foldable members and other pivotally mounted members,such as pivoted arm and leg portions, which, when the hinged members arefolded or unfolded will automatically actuate the pivotally mounted armand leg portions and bring them to folded or unfolded positions. Y

In the drawings is illustrated one physical embodiment ofthe invention,and in said drawings: Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of Aa chairembodying the improvements, the parts being shown in their unfolded orextended positions.

,Figure 2 is a View in side elevation of the chair shown in Fig. 1. v

, Figure `3 is a view in front elevation showing the back and side armsin partially folded positions.

Figure 4 is a top plan view showing the back and side arms completelyfolded on the seat.Y

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view showing the chair legs incompletelyfolded position.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the chair bottom showing theplegholding means and the seat pad securing means. Y y Figure 7 is a detailto show the common pivot for side ann and leg units and slotted bottomfor leg clearance. Figure 8 is a detail of the leg and sidefsarm pivot,showing its attachment tothe seat flange, on lined-8 of Fig. '7. .7, Y

Figure 9 is a view in front elevation showing means for automaticallyfolding, unfolding, and holding in place the side arms and leg membersof the chair. A p Y Figure l is a view in side elevation of a portion ofa chair showing the mounting of the arms and leg actuating members.l YFigure 11 is an enlarged plan view on substantially the line II-II ofFigure 10 of a portion of a chair showing the pivotal mountings of theparts. n

Referring to the drawings by numbers, the samenumbers designating thesame parts in the several views, Il) is the seat portion of thechair 2 iwhich may be of any desired design insofar as shape, finish, and thelike are concerned. .The seat'V ID is made up of a main bottom portionII. having at its edges upturned side and end flanges I2, so as to forma support for a suitable seat pad I3. Further, flanges I2 provide meansforpivotally mounting the back, side arms, legs, and leg-actuatingmeans, as will be hereinafter described. Pivotally mounted at suitablepoints on -a side flange I2, is a back portionIS, which back portion I5may be swung on its pivots I4 to open or closed positions. rhe make-up-of the Vbaci: may be varied according tov the k*needs or design of themaker, it being essential, however, that it have an upper reach `or barwhich will be curved for a purpose which willl presently be stated, anda transversely disposed bar I 5 sloping outwardly from a high centerpoint I'Ito the up-j. rights I8 of the back to give substantially awedgev formation. At the point of junction of the ends of the bar'l6with the uprights I8, bar I6 Awill be provided with abrupt bends ornotches I9` to r# ceive the side arms of the chair when the parts arebrought to upright position..

The side arms 20 are made up of a top .limb and vertical limbs coupledtogether in any suit-V able mannerto yform a rigid structure, being hereshown as integral. The vertical limbs of the side arms are pivotallymounted on suitable pivots 2`I on the endanges I2 of the bottom, thepivoted ends of thearms 20 being disposed exteriorly of the anges I2 soas to leave the interior of the anged bottom unobstructed fortheintro'duci tion of the seat pad I 3. and, further, as will presentlyappear, to permit the mounting vof the chair legs on the same pivots 2|that are used to pivotally support the side arms 20. The ends of theupright bars of the side arms 20 are slightly offset by curving them, sothat they may be engaged withl the pivots 2I and yet, when in. un-

' folded, open position. be offset slightlyso as to be l:ln line withthe margin of the seatY I0 and provide full seat width. i

The top bars of the side arms 20 engage the barII of the back I5, andwhen the back is 1 swung to open position, ride down the inclinedportions of the bar from its high center point Il until they drop intothe abrupt bends or notches I9. where they will be held againstaccidental displacement, and a rigid back and jside arm set-up provided.The back I5 will be'in clined rearwardly past the perpendiculanin itsopen position, so that even if folding pressure were exerted on the sidearms 20, the position of the parts is suchthat they will resist ffoldingarid engaged'with the"bottom;of 'the pad.

action until the back l5 is thrown forwardly past the perpendicular.

When the back I5 is moved from its open toward its closed position thecurved upper reach or bar 22 will engage the horizontal upper bars 23 ofthe side arms 2U' as they leave the bends or notches I9 and carry themto folded position against the seat. The overall length of the back l5will preferably be such that it will not extend, when folded,substantially beyond the margin or boundary of the seat I0, ensuring acompact, symmetrical folded position.

It will be seen that important features ofthis arrangement are thecurved upper reach-or-ba`r 22 of the back l5 to bring aboutv folding ofthe side arms 20 when the back is'folded,`and the transverseintermediate bar ljsloping'inoppo- In Figs. 9 to 11, inclusive, amodified construction is shown. The side arms 33 and back 34 areidentical in construction and operation with those heretofore described.The leg portions 35 are pivoted at 36 on a pivot 31 common to the legsand side arms as hereinbefore pointed out. The leg portions 35 are ofthe same general H-forrnation shown and described, but the transverselyVdisposed bars or rungs 38.are disposed at a lower level or nearer thefeet of the vertical leg members. These bars and rungs 38 are engaged byan actuating member 39 pivoted at 40 l' on the flange of the chairbottom and having aitransverse actuating bar 4l to engage the barsorrungsSS,k and fold or unfold them in the same "way' that the back 34folds and unfolds the side `f arms'33,'as described hereinbefore andillustrated site directions from its high center Il to provide .A

a wedging angle, so as to effect unfolding of the side arms when theback is opened.

The folding legs are made up of substantially H-shaped members'havingtwo upright leg portions 24 which are connected by a transverselydisposed bar or rung 25, so that there is provided a single leg unit foreach side of the chair. The floor ends of the leg portions 24 may beprovided with any suitable feet, butv suction cup feet V'Mi arepreferably provided for the reason that theyk givestabilityV toa'relatively light chair,

and more particularly, where a small, Ychild-s L chair is fashioned, Vagreater degree ofsafety from upsettingis secured. y j Y' The upper endsof the' leg-portions N-{are preferably pivoted on the same-pivots 2l onwhich the side armsare mounted, the leg endsv extending'u'pwardly;inside -ofthe end angesf i2, through slots Ha in tlie'bottom ll of yseatI0, which slotsare extendedV so as to provide clearance for the legendsasthey swing from open toclosed positions, theseslotsinsuring sufficientroom for play of the slightly curvedends 21' of the legs. It willbe seenthat-the curved ends 2l of the legs bring them 'toposition to engagepivots 2 I, and yetoffset the `legs' slightly to bring them to properposition under the outer boundary of the seat l0 for wide supportY andbetter-stability. Byusing the, same pivotsV forfthe sidefarms and thelegunits, the construction-'number of parts,- andv assemblyV ofthejparts is Vsi-rliplied'and'*a compact structure developed. Y f Y' Y,The cross barjor rung not onlyties thelegs 24' together so as toprovide-a Vleg unit which ismanipulated asA a` single`v member, butYalso' has the further function' of-acting as'a lockingbar to holdv theleg units in vk'extended position. Secured` to the bottom' offtlfeseat'Hl' (see vEigs'f: lfand 6) Yin any"suitabldmannenfas byirivets 28; is aspringy memberj'S-'having bar-engaging hooked ends 30. iii/"hen thev4leg 'units-arejm'oved to "extended supporting position the barf`' willslide out alongi the spring 29j and snap finto; the hooked ends 30.'rThe legswillbe firmlyheldin extended position, but can be readilyjIreleased by'springing theends'of member 29`to release -the bar or rung25, and-.permitf'the leg unitftq'be foidedjagainst thev bottom oftheseat: 'In' order to* give room for" the ends; 21j-'of the -legs-l whichengage the' pivots 2l onthe inside v,of the 'anges l2, thevcushionor'pa'd` I3niaybejreducedbr cut awayslightly, asfalt '31,' so that nointerference with' opening' or`foldin`g movement of the legs will'occur. TheA pad I`3"maybe secured' against accidental,displacement'by'providing a` screw4 32 whih'may`be inserted through the'bot'tom H inthe drawings. At its ends where it joins the vertical limbs of theactuating member 39, the transverse bar 4l has notched or offsetportions l2 to receive'ltherungs 38T and hold them against accidentaldisplacement. When 'brought toV extended position by operation ofV theactuating member 33 the leg portions will be held in place until themember 39 is'folded and they are swung to foldingposition in the samegeneral manner in which theside arms are manipulated by the. notchedrbar-on the pivoted back portion, r'as shownand described. Except for. form'anderlesign the parts are the same, and the mechanical actionin foldingand unfolding the side arms and leg portions is-practically identical.Bythe-practice of this invention a compact,serviceablechair'construction is provided, which, when set up in itsextended position, givessva sturdy. rigid. and safe seat and. whenfolde'dgcan be conveniently packed and transported.

Mechanical departures from the construction and assembly herespecifically shown anddescribedlmay bemmade and still fall within therange of the invention `as dened yin the vappendedlclaims. v

Il claim: l.. A foldingI chaircomprising a seat; apairlof inwardlyfoluable, pivotally'mounted chairiarms, attached onerat eaclrside-ofsaidseat; asingle inwardly fold'able member pivotally mounted '-on saidseat at right angles to said pair of arms; and arm actuating4 barsv on.said single member engagingreach'of said pair of arms` at rig-htanglesto move` themto Vand from-folded and unfolded positionslwhen'sad -singlememberis movedfto andvfrom its folded-andv unfolded positions.` .2. :A3folding chair comprising aseat; 'a pair-'of inwardly foldable, pivotallymounted chair-Harms; attachedone at each side of said sea-teachlaving'horizontal bars; a single inwardly foldable member pivotallymounted on said seat-.atright angles tosaidpair of armsanda pluralityfzarm actuating bars integral with" said1 single member for movingengagement with'the horizontal -ba'rs of each of said pairof armsto-move thento and from folded and unfolded positions,when said singlemember is moved to andfrom'its folded and unfolded positions. fr 3. A.folding-chair comprising a vseatveterani of inwardly -foldab1e,vpivotally`r mountedehair arms, attached one at eachfside ofesaidseateach havinghorizontal' bars; a-sing-le inwardly foldablememberepivotally' mountedj on saidl seat at rightA angles to said pairofV arms, a plurality of arm actuating bars on said single` member forrmoving engagement-with the horizontal bars ofweach ofsaid pairl of" armsto move themto and from folded and-unfolded positions when said singlemember is moved to and from its folded and unfolded positions, one ofsaid bars on said single member having bends at its ends to engage thehorizontal bars and hold the pairs of arms in unfolded position.

4. A chair comprising a seat, a back pivotally mounted on said seat,side arms pivotally mounted on said seat, a transverse bar on said backto engage said side arms and fold them from upright to folded positionwhen said back is folded, and a second transverse bar on said backspaced from said rst mentioned bar to engage said side bars and raisethem when said back is raised.

5. A chair comprising a seat, a back pivotally mounted on said seat,side arms having horizontal and vertical limbs pivotally mounted on saidseat, a curved transverse bar on said back to engage the horizontallimbs of said side arms and move them to folded position when said backis folded, and a second transverse wedge-shaped bar on said back spacedfrom said first named bar to engage said side bars and raise them whensaid back is raised.

6. A chair comprising a seat, a bottom, side and end flanges extendingperpendicularly from said bottom; a back pivotally mounted on said sideflanges; side arms pivotally mounted on said end flanges; a transversebar on said back to engage the said side arms and move them to foldedpositions when said back is folded, and a second transverse bar on saidback spaced from said first named bar to engage said side bars and raisethem when said back is raised.

7. A chair comprising a, seat, a bottom, side and end flanges extendingperpendicularly from said bottom; a back pivotally mounted on said sideflanges; side arms pivotally mounted on said flanges; an upper curvedtransverse bar on said back to engage the said side arms and fold themon said seat when said back is folded, and a lower wedge-shapedtransverse bar on said back spaced from said first named bar to engagesaid side bars and raise them when said back is raised.

8. A chair comprising a seat having a bottom, side and end angesextending perpendicularly upward from said bottom to form a pad recess;a back having arms curved at their ends to oiset said back relative'tosaid seat pivotally mounted on said side anges; side arms ofsubstantially inverted U-shape having horizontal limbs and verticallimbs with curved ends pivotally mounted on said end flanges to offsetsaid side arms relative to said seat; an integral curved upper bar onsaid back to engage the horizontal limbs of said side arms and move themfrom upright to folded positions when said back is folded, and anintegral lower wedge-shaped bar spaced from said upper bar to engage thehorizontal limbs of `said side arms and raise them when said back israised.

9. A chair comprising a seat, a back pivotally mounted on said seat,side arms pivotally mounted on said seat, an integral transverse bar onsaid back to engage said side arms and fold them from upright to foldedposition when said back is folded, a second transverse bar on said backspaced from said rst named bar to engage said side bars and raise themwhen said back is raised, and interlocking means on said second bar toengage said side arms and hold them in upright positions.

10. A chair comprising a seat, a back pivotally mounted on said seat,side arms pivotally mounted on said seat, an integral transverse bar onsaid back to engage said side arms and fold them from upright to foldedposition when said back is folded, a second transverse bar on said backspaced from said first named bar to engage said side bars and raise themon said seat when said back is raised, and side arm interlocking meansat the ends of said second transverse bar to hold them in uprightrposition.

11. A chair comprising a seat, a back pivotally mounted on said seat,side arms pivotally mounted on said seat, an integral transverse bar onsaid back to engage said side arms and fold them from upright to foldedposition when said back is folded, a second transverse bar on said backspaced from said first named bar to engage said side bars and raise themon said seat when said back is raised, and side arms receiving bends atthe ends of said second transverse bar to hold them in upright position.

12. A chair comprising a seat, a back pivotally mounted on said seat,side arms pivotally mounted on said seat, an integral transverse bar onsaid back to engage said side arms and fold them from upright tofoldedposition when said back is folded, a second transverse bar on saidback spaced from said first named bar to engage said side bars and raisethem on said seat when said back is raised, side arms receiving bends inthe ends of said second transverse bar to hold them in upright position,and foldable legs pivotally mounted beneath said seat.

13. A chair comprising a seat having a bottom provided with slots at itsside edges. pad retaining flanges rising from said bottom Vin proximityto the bottom slots, pivots extending inwardly from the side flanges ofsaid seat adjacent the bottom slots, pivotally mounted side armsindependently mounted on said seat pivots, a back pivotally mounted onsaid seat, an integral transverse bar on said back to engage said sidearms and fold them from upright to folded position when said back isfolded, a second transverse bar on said back spaced from said firstnamed bar to engage said side bars and raise them on said seat when saidback is raised. foldable legs pivotally mounted beneath said seat, and apad disposed Within said flanges and having its corners fashioned toprovide clearance for the pivoted ends of said foldable legs. p Y

FRANCIS H. McCLERNON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent: Y

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 181,969 Osgood Sept. 5, 1876244,401 Powers July 19, 1881 1,061,935 Collier May 13, 1913 1,398,021Holley Nov. 22, 1921 1,563,236 Smith Nov. 24, 1925 1,600,823 Hess Sept.21, 1926 1,914,006 Brown June 13, 1933 2,050,114 Moore Aug. 4, 19362,131,722 Arthur Oct. 4, 1938 2,282,270 Vallone May 5, 1942 2,402,832Muller June 25, 1946

